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NSW dominated Queensland in many of the key statistical areas three weeks ago. They must improve, however, in the one area that matters most &#8230; scoring tries.

As predicted, the NSW forwards ran Queensland's big men around and tired them out. They made more metres than the Maroons and conceded only three tries. NSW looked the better team throughout but couldn't convert their dominance into points. In the end, the Blues scored only two tries and both came from high kicks.

There is nothing wrong with tries from kicks - hopefully we get a couple more tonight. But we must also create tries that don't rely on the luck of a high kick. Hooker Robbie Farah, halfback Mitchell Pearce, five-eighth Todd Carney and fullback Brett Stewart are charged with this responsibility.

"NSW need to get the roles of these two players [Todd Carney and Brett Stewart] right". Photo: Getty Images

Origin I was the first time these four played together. In club footy, it can take players in these positions several matches before they are comfortable with each other. Some combine well immediately, while others take a while because their styles don't gel as well. When this happens, the coach may need to make some adjustments to the team's structure. But this can take time, which NSW doesn't have.

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If NSW do have a problem in this regard, then I think it is due to the similar styles of Stewart and Carney. When these two players combined in Melbourne, the NSW attack ran sideways and didn't pose enough of a threat to Queensland's defence.

NSW need to get the roles of these players right. The way to do this is to have Pearce at first receiver more while splitting Carney and Stewart on either edge. This will allow Carney and Stewart to play like they do with their clubs. In Manly's last game against the Dragons, Stewart was at his best. He put on a couple of brilliant tries. Manly get Stewart in his best attacking position five or six times a game and that usually leads to two or three tries. In Origin I, this happened only once and Justin Hodges got him with a great tackle. Carney plays a similar style for the Sharks but in Origin I he wasn't sighted in attack.

This structure also enables Pearce and Farah to focus on creating space for Carney and Stewart. This suits the style of Pearce and Farah as it requires them to play very straight at the middle defenders. By carrying the ball to the defensive line with support players off their hips, these two will ensure the Maroons' tight defenders stay tight. They can then get the ball to Carney or Stewart on either side of the ruck with room to move.

From all reports, Ricky Stuart and his playmakers have done plenty of homework on their performance in Melbourne and I'm sure we'll see a more dangerous attacking structure tonight. Before any of this can happen, though, NSW's forwards must own the middle once again.

13 Jun
After the crushing disappointment of a controversial defeat, and amid the accusations and recriminations that swirled even before the final bell, Ricky Stuart asked his team to hang on to one thing. They had not beaten Queensland. Not on the scoreboard. But, in the way they played, they had made him believe they could.